My journey towards a Christ centered life, focused on hospitality, cultural awareness, and community through the power of the Holy Spirit.

July 16, 2008

Manna Every Morning

Exodus 16:21

They gathered manna every morning.

Labour to maintain a sense of thine entire dependence upon the Lord's good will and pleasure for the continuance of thy richest enjoyments. Never try to live on the old manna, nor seek to find help in Egypt. All must come from Jesus, or thou art undone for ever. Old anointings will not suffice to impart unction to thy spirit; thine head must have fresh oil poured upon it from the golden horn of the sanctuary, or it will cease from its glory. To-day thou mayest be upon the summit of the mount of God, but He who has put thee there must keep thee there, or thou wilt sink far more speedily than thou dreamest. Thy mountain only stands firm when He settles it in its place; if He hide His face, thou wilt soon be troubled. If the Saviour should see fit, there is not a window through which thou seest the light of heaven which He could not darken in an instant. Joshua bade the sun stand still, but Jesus can shroud it in total darkness. He can withdraw the joy of thine heart, the light of thine eyes, and the strength of thy life; in His hand thy comforts lie, and at His will they can depart from thee. This hourly dependence our Lord is determined that we shall feel and recognize, for He only permits us to pray for "daily bread," and only promises that "as our days our strength shall be." Is it not best for us that it should be so, that we may often repair to His throne, and constantly be reminded of His love? Oh! how rich the grace which supplies us so continually, and doth not refrain itself because of our ingratitude! The golden shower never ceases, the cloud of blessing tarries evermore above our habitation. O Lord Jesus, we would bow at Thy feet, conscious of our utter inability to do anything without Thee, and in every favour which we are privileged to receive, we would adore Thy blessed name and acknowledge Thine unexhausted love. ~Charles Spurgeon

Dearest friend,

Have you ever experienced a loss of the Lord's presence in your life? I have and I can utterly concur when Mr. Spurgeon says "if He hide His face, thou wilt soon be troubled." I recently experienced such a moment and can tell you how troubled I felt. It was as if all at once I was washed swiftly away from His abiding sense of wellness. I say it this way simply to convey that for me, when I am in His presence I have an abiding sense of "all is well." I feel as though I am sheltered and protected and that no matter what the world might toss my way, I am safe in my loving Father's arms. I have felt, I mean felt, it when He looks away. It is an awful, sinking feeling and the best words to describe it are "utter darkness." I am alone, not just alone like I used to be before being saved, but alone in the sense of "knowing" there is more and I am now on the outside peering in. Thankfully, repentance and confession are the tools of God's marvelous Spirit, and once broken and contrite, the believer quickly recovers and find him or herself back in the blessed "wellness" of the Father's care.

Pages

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Home Education

Home Schooling

Now in Phoenix Arizona

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved" (1 Corinthians 10:31-33 New Living Translation).